SOW_Quivira_Woody_Invasive_Species_Control_2025.pdf

140FS225Q0144 Woody Invasive Species Brush and Tree Control 2025 Page 1 of 7

Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

1434 NE 80th Street, Stafford, KS 67578

STATEMENT OF WORK

1. General:

1.1 In General

Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) intends to improve an array of habitat using both mechanical and chemical methods by treating invasive woody species and trees and reducing grassland fragmentation.

1.2 Purpose/End Application:

The Refuge’s Comprehensive Conservation Plan and the step-down Habitat Management Plan identified management goals and objectives that support a reduction of non-native trees and shrubs. Additionally, strategic removal of woody vegetation and trees was determined necessary to benefit grassland-dependent wildlife. In recent years, fire frequency has reduced for reasons beyond Refuge control allowing further woody encroachment and fragmentation.

Commonly controlled invasive woody species in wetlands or wet meadows include non- native salt cedar and Russian olive, and native rough-leaf dogwood. Those in drier grassland sites include locust species, Siberian elm, and red cedar. In addition, excessive cover of native shrubs, such as plum species, are managed to support characteristically open grassland and meadow ecosystems. The objectives of this treatment are to reduce heavy fuels and sustain grassland/meadow communities by reducing fragmentation. This project will help support a range of natural conditions characteristic of the ecological site conditions and associated wildlife habitat requirements.

1.3 Contractor Qualifications:

Contractor qualifications and certifications, as required by law, are required for this contract including accident prevent requirements and FAA regulations that apply. Areas of consideration should include emergency communications in the field, an emergency contact list, first aid preparedness, personal protective equipment, equipment fueling, fire suppression, and public safety considerations. The contractor is expected work in a safe manner to minimize the hazards to themselves and the public.

The contractor shall be responsible for obtaining all necessary local, state, and federal permits and licenses, and payment of related fees, per the contract.

1.4 Other:

Contractors are requested to provide a technical approach based on past experience

140FS225Q0144 Woody Invasive Species Brush and Tree Control 2025 Page 2 of 7 doing similar work. It is highly recommended that contractors perform a site visit to understand the scope of the project, ground conditions, etc. prior to submitting an offer.

2. Place of Performance and Period of Performance (Where and When) the project is being completed.

2.1 Place of Performance:

Work will be completed on Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (Figure 1). The Refuge is located in Stafford, Rice, and Reno Counties in central Kansas. The Refuge’s headquarters building is located at 1434 NE 80th St., Stafford, KS 67578, approximately 7 miles northeast of Stafford, KS. Treatment sites will occur on habitat located 1-14 miles away from the main headquarters building.

The Refuge comprises 22,135 acres of wetland and native prairie habitat in Stafford, Reno and Rice Counties, Kansas. The work sites occur in prairie/meadows and wetlands with scattered woody vegetation subject to extremely wet conditions during the fall and spring seasons. Some sites will occur on choppy sand ridges with sandy soils and slopes. No treatment will occur in woodland groves but may be adjacent to these areas.

In no way should the brief descriptions here be considered a thorough account of conditions. Site locations are in areas open to the public and may have private land adjacent. Site visits are encouraged to be coordinated with the Refuge Manager (Kate

Brenner, 620-238-1647, kathryn_brenner@fws.gov) so any questions that arise at the time of visit can be answered and access may be best guided.

2.2 Period of Performance:

The Period of Performance is one year from the Notice to Proceed. The primary treatment period will be dependent on species of concern, occurrence, and associated habitat conditions, and seasonality. Brush mowing is primarily appropriate in April, May, August, and September. Tree pulling may occur throughout the year except June and July as described below. Chemical treatments are per label. Close planning will need to occur with

Refuge staff as some areas are sensitive to disturbance during the migration periods.

The cutting and mowing described in this Statement of Work may be completed during daylight hours (no overnight work - sunset to sunrise). The work may be completed Sunday thru Saturday, during Normal Duty Hours and Non-Duty Hours, as described below excluding night as described above. The contractor may adjust work hours during weekdays or weekends and holidays as long as prior coordination is made with the Refuge

Manager. The full project area is within huntable lands on the refuge. Timing may need to be adjusted to avoid conflicts with other users.

!! Exclusions !!: The Quivira National Wildlife Refuge is a stopover migration route and critical habitat for the endangered whooping crane. If cranes are determined to be on the

Refuge in areas of the work, operations will need to cease immediately. Whooping cranes typically arrive on the Refuge in early October. Additionally, to avoid disturbing nesting birds, there will be no treatments allowed the months of June and July.

mailto:kathryn_brenner@fws.gov

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The Notice to Proceed will only be given following the contract award and notification by the Contracting Officer. All work must be completed within the Period of Performance unless a change in scheduling is arranged with the Refuge Manager and Contracting

Officer. A contract extension may be approved if appropriate and necessary.

Documentation, as described in section 4.2 will be required for an extension to be granted.

2.3 Normal Duty Hours

Normal office duty hours are Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. In the event of emergencies, Contractor shall provide contact information. Refuge access hours are from sunrise to sunset. No night operations are allowed and all conditions should be appropriate for treatment methods (chemical per label, ground conditions for equipment, etc.).

2.4 Non-Duty Hours

Non duty hours include week nights, weekends, and Government holidays (New Year’s

Day, Martin Luther King JR.’s Birthday, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day). In the event of emergencies, Contractor shall provide contact information.

3. Scope

This is a multi-year contract consisting of the primary year and four consecutive option years based on funding and condition assessments. Each year will consist of new treatment areas and may also include retreatment areas from previous years.

The goal is reducing cover of various brush and trees over multiple locations on the Refuge where encroachment and invasion has occurred. The contractor will use mechanical (mowing and tree-pulling) and chemical treatments in upland prairie and wetland areas. Species to treat may include plum, rough-leaf dogwood, red cedar, locust, Siberian elm, Russian olive, and salt cedar. Native trees, such as cottonwood, willow, and soapberry, will not be treated.

The preferred heavy equipment for use would be a compact tracked loader (CTL), or the equivalent, using various attachments such as a hydraulic tree puller, brush cutter, and mulching head attachment to minimize disturbance to grassland and wetland habitat. This type of mechanical removal has been successfully used on the Refuge where brush can be mowed

(low; <4” stumps) and trees can be physically pulled up by the roots and dropped in place or piled. The size and model of the equipment is not specified; however, a 95-horsepower CTL

(or similar) machine has been used successfully with minimal ground disturbance on past projects.

The mow treatment areas are primarily dominated by plum and dogwood (<8 ft height). New brush mowing sites currently have shrub cover >70%. There are also sites that have previously been treated that have less shrub cover, however, are not yet at our desirable land cover and may need further treatment. The objective is to reduce total shrub cover to 5-25% through a mosaic of small stands to reduce grassland fragmentation while still promoting habitat for shrub-dependent species such as Bell’s Vireo.

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Tree-pulling sites have variable tree cover, often scattered covering approximately 25-50% of selected sites. Trees to pull include red cedar, locust, Siberian elm, Russian olive, and salt cedar. Diameters will vary based on species and age and may range from slender (pencil sized) to 8” diameter mature growth trees. The maximum size limit will also be determined by size of the equipment and safety in handling larger diameter and taller trees. Trees pulled up will not be hauled off site but left where pulled or stacked in small piles. The objective is 100% removal of all trees in the treatment area.

Chemical treatment will be required in some areas in combination with mechanical action.

Chemical treatment will be used after mowing dogwood and for Siberian elm, Russian olive, locust, and salt cedar where the roots cannot be successfully pulled up using mechanical methods. Chemical treatment will be according to label as appropriate for each species.

Objective is for 100% treatment. However, the Contractor should prioritize minimizing ground disturbance and damage to native species.

Due to the frequent condition changes on the Refuge, water availability, and weather conditions, treatments may occur in any of the proposed areas based on the provided map. This gives flexibility to the Refuge and the Contractor when an area is inaccessible over others.

Maps will be provided each year of the focused treatment areas (subject to adaptation based on the conditions). Each subsequent option year will contain a new map with the preferred work areas.

Contractors should provide the following when submitting offers:

1. Equipment that will be used for treatments (identify the treatment method, i.e. mowing, mulching, pulling, chemical, etc.).

2. Chemicals treatment methods (i.e. foliar, girdling, cut stump, basal, etc.) and timing of application.

3. Chemicals (including surfactants) to be used and formulations.

4. Method of documenting hours, treatments, and success.

5. Offers must be submitted in a cost/hour proposal per treatment method each year. Although a crew of several workers (including equipment) may be deployed to accomplish this work, the cost/hour quotes should incorporate all other expenses such as cost of chemical, mobilization, and other fees.

a. Treatment methods include: Chemical, Brush mowing, and Tree pulling.

b. Include offers for the primary year (year 1) and 4 consecutive option years using the same criteria. Option years will be enacted as funding allows.

Contactors are encouraged to conduct an on-site visit before submitting their offers. Site visits help in assessing work conditions, evaluating the density of invasive species, and formulating a realistic and competitive offer. The contractor shall be fully responsible to ensure that the terms of this contract are met and complied with, via quality control and monitoring. The contractor will also be fully responsible for completion of work unit areas within an acceptable, and timely, manner. Meetings to discuss project area specifics, progress, and completion will occur prior to starting, throughout, and upon completion of the treatment areas.

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4. Deliverables and/or Delivery Schedule: (for extended list a schedule and/or use of line item detail on the PR is recommended)

4.1 Deliverables

Contractor will furnish all labor, services, equipment, specified materials, chemical, and supervision to mechanically and chemically treat woody encroachment on Quivira

National Wildlife Refuge as specified in Section 3.

4.2 Required Documentation

The Contractor will document in the form of daily work logs identifying hours, treatments, and conditions. Maps should be provided (preferred shapefiles, but rough drawn is appropriate) after each treatment area is completed. A potential extension to the period of performance will not be allowed without logs from the contractor.

5. Data Management Plan (DMP):

N/A

6. Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE) / Government-Furnished

Information (GFI)

6.1 GPE and GFI

Government will not furnish any equipment, services, labor, or daily supervision of contractor or contractor employees. Government will provide support in the form of overall project guidance and oversight. Government will also provide maps and access to the project area.

6.2 Limitations

Limitations are previously discussed in sections 1-3.

7. Evaluation and Acceptance

7.1 The contractor will be evaluated as detailed herein. Government acceptance is contingent upon:

Refuge staff will inspect and observe work throughout the process to verify quality of work and quantify percentage of work completed. Each site will be inspected by Refuge personnel once the Contractor has notified that site has been completed and die off of the targeted species can be seen.

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Government acceptance is contingent upon meeting the work and specifications outlined in this Statement of Work.

8. Quality Control/Quality Assurance:

8.1 For commercial supplies reference clauses for inspection and acceptance. Where appropriate, QC will be maintained according to industry standards and made available to the agency with the contractor’s proposal.

Refuge staff will inspect and observe work throughout the process to verify quality of work and quantify work completed. Each treatment site will be inspected by Refuge personnel once the Contractor has notified that site has been completed.

Government acceptance is contingent upon meeting the work and specifications outlined in

8.2 Measures for assessing quality control and acceptance.

Objectives of success include the following: 1) Reduction of total shrub cover to 5-25% through a mosaic of small stands, 2) 100% tree pull without damage to native trees, and 3) total chemical coverage of target species. All objectives as laid out by Section 3.

Acceptance of work will be measured by ensuring treatment was applied as indicated in

9. Technical Coordinator:

Contacts Name Title Phone Email

Primary Kate Brenner Refuge

Manager o 620-410-4011 m 620-238-1647 kathryn_brenner@fws.gov

Alternate Quentin Parker Wildlife

Refuge

Specialist o 620-410-4011 m 620-352-9993 quentin_parker@fws.gov mailto:kathryn_brenner@fws.gov mailto:quentin_parker@fws.gov

Mechanical Treatment b Treatment -r

N

Coordinate System: NAO 1983_1

Herbicide_Appl ication

Retreat _Shrub_Mowing

Retreat_ Tree_Removal

Shrub_Mowing

Tree_Removal

Map Data Source: NWRS_MATS_Mechanical, FWS.MU_Land_Units, FWS.MU_Wetland 0 2 4 Miles

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